Cow Corner

Series ratings for England flops

England were left humbled and humiliated after Pakistan rounded off a convincing 3-0 series whitewash after their 71-run victory in the third Test in Dubai.

It was a thoroughly chastening experience for Andy Flower's side, and South Africa can now usurp England at the top of the world Test rankings with a 3-0 series victory over New Zealand. The tour as a whole could hardly have gone worse.

The batsmen were primarily to blame. It was England's first Test series since India visited back in 1986 when only one of the batsmen averaged over 30, and that was wicketkeeper Matt Prior.

Meanwhile, Pakistan became the first side in 105 years to win a Test match after having made fewer than 100 runs in their first innings - a feat last achieved by England against South Africa at Headingley in 1907 — and Misbah-ul-Haq's side again tormented their visitors in the field to whitewash the tourists for the first time.

So, on to the series ratings. Look away now...

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Andrew Strauss

Batting average: 25.00

Verdict: The England captain struggled to play himself back into form in what is becoming an extended period of bad form, but he did manage to muster a gutsy 56 in the first innings of the third Test in Dubai. His captaincy was perfectly adequate and he reportedly championed the successful inclusion of Monty Panesar ahead of the second Test, but England needed more from him with the bat.

Rating: 5

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Alastair Cook

Batting average: 26.50

Verdict: It was a rare off series for the usually prolific Cook, but England will be hoping this is not the start of a lean spell. An average of 26.50 was not what was expected from the reigning Test player of the year, and England desperately missed his solidity at the top of the innings. A determined 49 in the second innings of the third Test was scant consolation.

Rating:5

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Jonathan Trott

Batting average: 26.83

Verdict: As with Cook, much more was expected of the often immovable batsman, and the tourists suffered as a result of his poor form at number three. The present ICC cricketer of the year struggled to replicate his form in 2011 on the slow wickets in the UAE, and it says something of England's truly dismal showings that he had the second highest average of 26.83 - itself a hugely disappointing statistic.

Rating: 5

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Kevin Pietersen

Batting average: 11.16

Verdict: Inevitably, such is Pietersen's high profile, he will come in for the most criticism following a series in which he averaged a paltry 11.16 and had a top score of just 32. KP did not endear himself to many when tweeting about his IPL excitement during a faltering campaign, and the enigmatic batsman's inconsistency continues to infuriate his coach Andy Flower. Pietersen simply did not perform.

Rating: 3

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Ian Bell

Batting average: 8.50

Verdict: Compared to Pietersen and Morgan, Bell appears to have got off lightly in terms of the criticism thrown in his direction. The number five averaged a pitiful 8.50 from six innings and, to describe his batting against the spin of Saeed Ajmal as clueless and hapless would be an understatement. Bell top-scored with 29 and never came to the fore for England with an atrocious chip to point in the second innings of the final Test summing it all up.

Rating:2

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Eoin Morgan

Batting average: 13.66

Verdict: Is this the end for England's enigmatic left-hander? With his spot at number six far from secure, Morgan could well be used as the batting scapegoat for the upcoming series in Sri Lanka. The Irishman's average of 13.66 and general temperament, while not as poor as Bell's, gives Flower and Strauss little reason to keep him in the side with a host of players clamouring for a run at the number six spot.

Rating:3

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Matt Prior

Batting average: 37.50

Verdict: In addition to his typically impeccable glovework, Prior performed perfectly adequately with the bat and, but for his valuable contributions down the order, England's embarrassment would have been compounded. Prior had the best average of any England player, and showed good application in top-scoring with an unbeaten 70 before being left cruelly stranded by the tail.

Rating:7

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Stuart Broad

Batting average: 21.00

Bowling average: 20.46

Verdict: Broad was undoubtedly England's best paceman and, along with Panesar, the tourists' most effective and potent bowler. In addition to averaging 21 with the bat, Broad boasted a truly world-class average of 20.46 with the ball at an impressive strike rate of 53.8. The lanky seamer continues to go from strength to strength, and his efforts on the slow, low wickets of the UAE are surely worth double compared to bowling on English or Australian tracks.

Rating:8

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Graeme Swann

Batting average: 17.50

Bowling average: 25.07

Verdict: Swann came into the series as the world's top-ranked Test spinner, but found himself consigned as the second slow bowler to be employed by Strauss as Panesar's displays overshadowed those of his charismatic team-mate. Swann still took 13 wickets, but this will not have gone down as one of his most distinguished series in international cricket. Despite premature and over-zealous suggestions to the contrary, Swann remains England's best spinner.

Rating:6

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James Anderson

Batting average: 10.80

Bowling average: 27.66

Verdict: While Broad was able to adjust and adapt his bowling to thrive on the unfamiliar tracks of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Anderson found it considerably tougher. While not performing badly, Jimmy was forced to settle for a bit-part role as he averaged 27.66 and took nine wickets from the three matches. Anderson will always be at his best in English conditions, and Broad proved himself to be the better all-round bowler in this series.

Rating: 6

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Monty Panesar

Batting average: 4.00

Bowling average: 21.57

Verdict: Monty's second coming was a revelation. The slow left-arm spinner weaved his magic to good effect, taking 14 wickets - the most of any of the England bowlers, despite having only played in two of the three matches. As ever, Monty's ebullient, enthusiastic character was a popular addition within the side and appreciated by his team-mates. If there was any doubt prior to the series about the identity of England's best second spinner, there certainly is not any more.

Rating: 8

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Chris Tremlett

Batting average: 0.50

Bowling average: N/A

Verdict: It is harsh to have to judge Tremlett on the basis of one match in which he did not look entirely fit, but his figures of no wicket for 53 runs reflected an out-of-character display in which the gigantic paceman's bowling looked alarmingly innocuous. With Steven Finn waiting in the wings and Tim Bresnan almost back to full fitness, Tremlett may really struggle to regain his place in the side.

Rating:5

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STAT OF THE DAY: Cook became the quickest player to reach 6,000 Test runs in the fewest number of days since his debut: five years, 11 months, five days. The previous Test record was six years and two days by Kevin Pietersen. Cook also became the second youngest player to reach the landmark, behind Sachin Tendulkar. He beat David Gower as the youngest Englishman to reach the mark.

TWEET OF THE DAY: Strauss: "Moving forward, we have to take the positives. Broady had a good series; the breakfasts at the hotel were also pretty special." (Altcricket)

USER COMMENT OF THE DAY: Pakistan become only the sixth team in history and the first since 1907 to win a Test after having been bowled out for less than 100 batting first. Now that's called becoming history-makers! (Shafqat)

SHOTS OF THE DAY: England's fielding practice does not go according to plan as Monty shows why he has made the deep fine leg position his own.

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Even the England captain could not salvage some competence from the session as he grassed an attempted slip catch.

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Believe it or not, this was an enthralling fourth day at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Still, there is always a place for a cursory shot of the two men sat in the West Stand. Needless to say judging from their disgruntled, disinterested expressions, the pair were England supporters.